Packing-case



(No Model.)

W. D. SMITH;

PACKING CASE.

Patented Dec. 13,1881.

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Witnesses TA'IES PATENT Brien.

IV. DEAN SMITH, OF BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS.

PACKING-CASE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 250,986, dated December13, 1881, Application filed September 8, 1881. (N model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I W. DEAN SMITH, a citizen of the United States,residing at Boston, in the county of Suffolk and State of Massachusetts,have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Packages; and Idohereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and

- exact description of theinvention, such as will enable others skilledin the art to which it appertains to make and use the same, referencebeing had to the accompanying drawings, and to letters or figures ofreference marked thereon, which form a part of this specification.

Figure 1 is a perspective view of myimproved crate or package. Fig. 2 isa sectional view taken on line 00 1, Fig. 1, looking in the directionindicated by the arrow 1; and Figs. 3, 4, 5 are detached views of themetallic portions or corner-pieces of the package.

The object of the first part of this invention is to produce a cheap,light, and durable package in which to pack and transport fruit,vegetables, and other similar articles; and to this end it consists inconstructing such package with metallic corner-pieces which are angularin cross-section and are adapted to support the sides of the package.

The object of the second part of the invention is to so construct apackage that the top or cover may be easily secured thereto and removedtherefrom without the use of hinges.

Referring to Figs. 1 and 5, A is an angleiron or corner-piece,consisting of a flat plate of metal, having two sides arranged at rightangles to each other and provided with a suitable number of rivet-holes,a.

In Figs. 1 and 3, B is an angle-iron similar to the angle-iron A,exceptthat at its upper end it is closed, as at B, for a purpose which will beexplained. This angle-iron is also provided with rivet-holes b.

In Figs. 1 and 4, O is an angle-iron having both ends closed, as at O,and also provided with rivet-holes c.

D are slats secured to the angle-irons by rivets which pass through therivet-holes formed in the angle-irons and corresponding rivetholes inthe ends of the side pieces. The bottom is composed of either a seriesof slats, D, supported at their ends upon the inwardly-projecting sidesof the angle-irons O, or of a single piece ofsuitable material supportedin the same manner, and either riveted to its supporting angle-irons orheld in place by the lower edges of the lower side pieces D, which maybe placed in contact with the bottom, or by both side pieces and rivets.When the bottom is formed of a number of strips, I prefer to rivet theirends to the angle-iron U, which angleirons are also riveted firmly tothe lower ends of the uprights A B. The upper series of slats D areplaced at such distance below the end plates, B, and upper end ofangle-iron A as will permit the corners of the cover F to enter betweenthe slats and said plates, and to be confined in said positions partlyby the upper end of the angle-iron A and partly by a staple, G, andspring-latch H. The staple is secured to the inner face of one of theslats by rivets, (see Fig. 2,) and projects upwardly through a slotformed in the cover for its reception.

H is a spring-latch, the free end ofwhich enters the staple above thecover F. I prefer to to make the angle-iron A of such length that itshall extend to the upper face of the cover, and thus assist in holdingthe cover in place; but it is apparent that it might be made shorter, asunder ordinary circumstances the cover would be held in place by thestaple G and latch H.

The angle-irons may be made of malleable iron, cast in the form shown inFigs. 4, 5, or they maybe made of sheet metal struck or stamped into theproper form, in which caseI prefer to make the end pieces double, onethickness projecting from each inner angle-iron and overlapping theother thickness, so that after they are formed up they can be secured toeach other by means of a rivet, b, Fig. 3.

While I prefer to use wood as the material out of which to make the sidestrips, the bot tom, and the cover, yet I do not wish to be limited tothe use of such material, as under some circumstances I may prefer touse metal; nor do I wish to be limited to using two or more strips, D,in forming the sides, as for packages for some purposes I may prefer tosubstitute a single piece of metal or wood for the strips shown in thedrawings; nor do I, in packages in which strips are used for the sides,wish to be limited to the employment of strips in all four of the sides,because a box may be suitably "entilated by having one or more of itssides thus constructed; nor do I wish to be limited to the use of aparticular fastening device, H, as many others might be satisfactorilyemployed.

I am aware that an gle-irons have been used for strengthening thecorners of boxes, crates, and similar packages; hence I do not claimtheir use, broadly, but my new combination of two or more angle-ironshaving one closed upper end with one or more angle-irons having openends and connecting box sides or crate sides possesse 1 markedadvantages over any prior construction of which I have knowledge.

What I claim is 1. In a packing-case, the combination, with the sidesthereof, of two or more angle-irons, B, having their closed ends Barranged above the edges of the sides D, wherebythere are formedrecesses adapted to receive the corners of the cover, substantially asset forth.

2. In a packing-ease, the combination of the sides D, two or moreangle-irons, 13, arranged with their closed ends B above the upper edgesof the sides to form recesses, and one or more angle-irons, A, arrangedto project above the upper edges of the sides D to receive one corner ofthe cover, substantially as set forth.

3. In a packing-case, the combination, with sides D, of two or moreangle-irons, B, having closed ends B, a cover, F, and a locking deviceadapted to lock the cover within the recesses.

4:. In a packing-case, the combination, with sides D, of two or moreangle-irons, B, projecting above the sides and having closed upper ends,one or more angle-irons, A, projecting above the sides, a cover, F, anda device adapted to lock the cover in position in the seats or recesses,substantially as set forth.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

\V. DEAN SMITH.

WVitnesses J. THEODORE GURNEY, HENRY H. PAGE.

